Report submitted by Worcestershire County League

In the Premier Division Ryan Derrick (5-18) continued where he left off last week as his second innings haul helped Stourport-on-Severn record their second maximum points win of the season to lift them four points clear of the rest.

Another player in fine early season form is wicket keeping all-rounder Maverick Perry (76) who compiled his second half century in two weeks to help Stourbridge post a solid first innings total which their bowlers, spearheaded by Dan Wale (52* & 4-35) ensured would be far too many for Bewdley to chase in the second innings at Lower Park, a win that moves the Glassboys in to second place.

However, it was newcomers Bromyard who provided the performance of the day when opening batsman Ian Bullock (64) and a late flurry from Gregory Leighton (55) whose half century (off half the number of deliveries) helped Bromyard chase down Astwood Bank's impressive first innings total of 286 off the final ball of the match to grab a sensational victory which looked a tall order for the most part. This win lifted them in to third place, level on points with Old Elizabethans who beat Old Hill in a low scoring affair at the Memorial Ground. Captain Sam Harn (4-28) was the main protagonist for the home side who eventually crossed the finishing line with three wickets in hand.

In other matches in the division Charlie Cross (7-46) helped Pershore register their first win of the season, an eight wicket maximum pointer against Colwall at the Bottoms and Brockhampton who declared in the first innings on (334-6) eased to a maximum winning draw points total against Redditch who batted stoically in the second innings to gain a losing draw.

In Division One the early pace setters are Droitwich Spa who beat Hagley by a comfortable margin at St. Peter’s Field to go top after Martyn Davies (5-32) spun them to victory with an excellent second innings return.

Newly promoted Worcester Nomads sit in second after Guy Davies (132*) compiled an excellent unbeaten first innings century which built the foundations for a comfortable victory against fellow newcomers Lye at Whitegates Farm. Feckenham sit in third after Shiv Kumar (74*) helped them record their second win of the season by three wickets against Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social at Albemarle Road.

Ombersley 2nd XI posted the highest score in the division to set up a comfortable victory against Belbroughton. Captain Marcus D’Oliveira (92) top scored and Osman Fiaz (65) supported well to help secure their first win maximum points win of the season, a win which moved them up in to fourth spot level on points with Hagley and Pedmore who made the long trip to Brick House Farm and came away with an excellent three wicket win against Burghill, Tillington & Weobley for whom James Burston (5-61) delivered all he could in the second innings to avoid defeat.

In the other match in the division Coombs Wood got the better of a high scoring match at home against Chaddesley Corbett to earn the points for a winning draw with the visitors nine wickets down in the second innings when the overs ran out.

In Division Two Bredon have started the season strongly with two wins from two. Martin Hill (72) helped the visitors post a healthy first innings total at Sambourne Lane which proved too stiff a task for Astwood Bank 2nd XI to chase who were dismissed over one hundred ruins short in reply.

Cookley are in second position after securing an hard earned winning draw against visitors Barnt Green 2nd XI which would have seemed a long, long way away in the first innings as at one stage the home side found themselves at 102-7 before Dave Huntbatch (62) struck an excellent half century to help gain a foothold in the game before the home side rallied in the second innings to force the visitors to finish their innings ten runs short of the target, nine wickets down when the overs were completed.

In other matches in the division Nathan Hines took (7-35) for Halesowen CC 2nd XI at North End Lane against Barnards Green 2nd XI to help them secure maximum points, Himley 2nd XI picked up their first maximum points win of the season on the road against Netherton whilst Himbleton, after a poor season opening batting performance last week rectified things with an excellent second innings batting performance at Harrow Lane which thanks to second innings half centuries Richard Pretty (75), Jamie Alford (73) and Jon Critchlow (60) helped them chase down Enville’s challenging first innings total to win by five wickets with four overs to spare and in a barnstormer at after a roller coaster of a second innings at Chester Road Kidderminster 2nd XI somehow got over the line against Bromsgrove 2nd XI  to record their first win of the season in a high scoring match that included a first innings century by Tom Green (105) for the visitors.

In Division Three, Brockhampton 2nd XI shot to the top after chasing down Redditch 2nd XIs huge first innings total thanks to an excellent unbeaten second innings century (115) from George Mokler. The Herefordshire based outfit are four points clear of newly promoted Alvechurch & Hopwood for whom James Beech (113*) scored a quickfire second innings century in a comfortable ten wicket win against Rushwick at home.

Another promoted side who have made an excellent start to their season are Worcester 2nd XI who currently occupy third place after picking up a winning draw at Norton Barracks against visiting Old Vigornians. Faisal Khalid (89) and a late onslaught from Rob Goodman (58*) helped the home side post a challenging first innings total of three hundred plus, which after the fall of Chris Drew (87) the visitors found to be too many to chase and when the innings concluded the visitors found themselves hanging on for the losing draw points just over fifty runs short, nine wickets down.

Elsewhere, James Mann (4-18) helped Old Elizabethans 2nd XI record their first win of the season against Old Hill 2nd XI at Haden Hill, whilst another excellent first innings batting performance by Martley led by Dominick Colwill (65) could only earn them their second winning draw in a row this time on the road against Avoncroft who frustrated the visitors by finishing nine wickets down in the second innings to cling on for a losing draw and Harborne suffered a similar fate as Anil Ram (70) and Arpit Bhargava (63) helped them post a formidable first innings total in excess of three hundred only to be frustrated by Will Maund (124*) who compiled an excellent undefeated second innings century to ensure Herefordshire based outfit Bartestree & Lugwardine’ s long trip wasn’t made in vain as they responded well to secure the losing draw points.

In Division Four, three teams have secured maximum points from the first two games of the season.

Stourbridge 2nd XI lead the field after Jonathan McAll (107) fired an excellent first innings century to help secure a comfortable maximum point win against Bewdley 2nd XI who have got off to a poor start. Ahtesham Waqar (154*) batted brilliantly in the first innings for Netherton 2nd XI who posted the high score of the day in a resounding win against Five Ways Old Edwardians and Bromsgrove 3rd XI completed the trio of maximum point winners when they beat Romsley & Hunnington by two wickets on the road.

In other matches in the division Scott Roberts (101*) fired an undefeated first innings century to help Eastnor amass a total in excess of three hundred in their comprehensive win against Pershore 2nd XI, Lye 2nd XI beat Stourport 2nd XI in a tighter affair and Coombs Wood 2nd XI were forced to accept a winning draw against Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI in a high scoring match at Longmore.

In Division Five, four teams are level on points after recording their second wins of the season.

Harborne 4th XI are top after beating Kempsey by seven wickets at Plovers Rise, Halesowen 3rd XI sit in second after making the long trip to Herefordshire to play Colwall 2nd XI where Stephen Coffey (123) struck a fine first innings century batting at number 8 for the home side only to be forced to watch on as an excellent second innings batting performance by the visitors led by John Aston (69) and Sam Preece (64*) resulted in a six wicket win with overs to spare. Derek Austin (100*) continued his excellent start to the season by scoring an undefeated second innings century in third placed Worcester Nomads 2nd XIs win at Chester Road against Kidderminster 3rd XI and the other team to post their second win in two were Claverley for whom Tom Grainger (74*) proved again to be the mainstay of the innings as his second innings undefeated half century helped secure a comfortable six wicket win against Astwood Bank 3rd XI.

Elsewhere, West Malvern enjoyed their first win of the season, a nine wicket triumph against Hanley Castle & Upton who are searching for the right note and at the Ramblers Ground, Malvern also secured their first win of the season in a nail biter by one wicket against Droitwich Spa 2nd XI for whom Adam Shaw (84) led the way in the first innings.

In Division Six, three teams remain undefeated.

Bromyard 2nd XI are at the summit after Edward Reece (6-38) and Michael Reece (98*) starred with bat and ball in a win against Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI on the newly laid second ground at Walshes Meadow. Enville 2nd XI occupy second as an unbroken second innings stand between Alex Craven (80*) and Robert Miller (74*) secured a win against Oldswinford & Stourbridge Social 2nd XI at Enville Hall and making up the trio of back to back winners were Barnt Green 3rd XI who followed up last week’s excellent performance with another sound batting performance led by Captain Charlie Hanson (110) whose first innings century helped defeat Old Vigornians by a wide margin at the Kings School.

In other matches Pedmore 2nd XI showed excellent character as they bounced back from their opening day mauling at the hands of Brant Green 3rd XI by beating visitors Alveley by six wickets to move in to fourth place, Belbroughton 2nd XI also gained their first victory of the season with a win against Stourbridge 3rd XI by a comfortable margin at Hackman’s Gate Lane and last but not least Hagley 2nd XI secured their first win of the season when Muhammad Maroof Khan (93) led them to a first innings total in excess of three hundred which proved more than enough to overcome Himley 3rd XI at Hagley Hall.

Cleobury Mortimer ensured they remain in top spot in Division Seven as they beat visitors Kidderminster 4th XI by six wickets at Love Lane. In form Paul Hutchins (96) and Neil Fletcher (71) ensured Cutnall Green kept up with the pace as they moved in to second place, level on points with the leaders after chasing down Feckenham 2nd XI’s excellent first innings total that was inspired by Mathew Grubb (141*) and Fraser Duggan (93) and Burghill, Tillington & Webley are the third team in the division to remain undefeated as they beat Rushwick at the Alf Tolley Memorial Ground by twenty two runs.

Elsewhere in the division there were first wins for Cookley 2nd XI who beat Bromsgrove 4th XI by six wickets, Evesham who beat Ombersley 3rd XI by forty six runs and Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI who were the benefactors of a concession from Birlingham.